A/N: YAY! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! HOPE YOU'RE HAVING A GREAT DAY!

Disclaimer: Not mine.

It was the most anticipated day –the arrival of the other two competing schools. Students were obviously excited. Class with Professor Snape was even cut short so that they could see and prepare for the guests. That made all of them pleased, especially Harry and Ron, of course. Hermione cannot deny, a break from their Potions professor is something worth celebrating, but of course, she wouldn't admit it to Harry and Ron.

All students waited for the two other schools to arrive. They were standing in front of the castle, shivering from cold. Hermione was standing beside Harry. This weather isn't in Hermione's list of the best things she wants.

Hermione was busy looking for some signs of their guests when she felt something warm. She saw Fred, standing behind her. He was putting his coat around her. Hermione was a bit surprised with the gesture. The last time he paid her any attention was already a long time ago. Fred had been avoiding her. Hermione didn't even know why. The last time he even looked at her was when they were at the common room after they've all heard Harry 'asked' Hermione if they could go on a 'date'.

And now, he's here, being nice to her after a few days of ignoring her. Fred could be confusing sometimes. Well. Scratch that. He was confusing most of the time.

He's a push and a pull.

Fred's hand never left Hermione's shoulder after that. She felt warmer, more because of Fred's hand and not because of the coat.

"It's cold here." Fred simply said.

"Tha-a-an-n-ks-s-s-s!" Hermione whispered.

Then they saw a huge carriage being pulled by dozens of winged- horses. All the students gasped. When the carriage landed at the grounds, the students, boys and girls, jumped outside it, following the largest woman she had ever seen. Hermione heard students whispered, "They're beautiful!" and there were murmurs of agreement. Hermione agreed with them. Standing in front of them were beautiful boys and girls from Beauxbatons Academy.

Hermione felt someone squeezed her hand –it was Fred. She looked him questioningly. He smiled, bent down a little and whispered, "I prefer you. You're a lot more beautiful." Hermione smiled happily at Fred. "Thanks." Fred squeezed her hand again, but this time, he didn't let go of her.

After a while, Durmstrang arrived in a big ship which emerged from the lake. Then just like the Beauxbatons, the Durmstrang students walked outside the ship and into the grounds. All of them were boys. And beside their headmaster was, in fact, none other than the Seeker of Bulgarian Quidditch team –Viktor Krum.

"It's Viktor Krum!" said the students excitedly.

Hermione squeezed Fred's hand, turned her head back so that she could see Fred, signaled him to move a little closer and whispered, "I prefer you. You're better-looking."

Fred smiled at Hermione, squeezed her hand and murmured, "Thanks." He kissed Hermione on the top of her head which surprised her since there were a lot of students there. He pulled Hermione closer him and put his unoccupied hand around her waist. Hermione didn't care even if the others see them. She knew Harry saw everything but he knew better than to say anything. What matters to Hermione is that Fred's there and no pretty Beauxbatons girl can stop that.

"I don't believe it!" Ron said, in a stunned voice, as the Hogwarts students filed back up the steps behind the party from Durmstrang. "Krum, Harry! Viktor Krum!"

"For heaven's sake, Ron, he's only a Quidditch player," said Hermione. Ron's continuous blabbing about Krum made her snap.

"Only a Quidditch player?" Ron said, looking at her as though he couldn't believe his ears.

"Hermione — he's one of the best Seekers in the world! I had no idea he was still at school!"

Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron's enthusiasm about Krum's arrival made him even more annoying. Fortunately, Harry's not like Ron. He was still calm and just like the usual Harry. And Hermione's thankful for that.

"Anyone put their name in yet?" Ron asked a third-year girl eagerly. Hermione, Ron and Harry went to the Great Hall earlier than they normally do but it seemed that they're not the only ones who'd want to see dramas unfold as students from different schools attempt to put their name in the Goblet of Fire.

"All the Durmstrang lot," she replied. "But I haven't seen anyone from Hogwarts yet."

"Bet some of them put it in last night after we'd all gone to bed," said Harry. "I would've if it had been me . . . wouldn't have wanted everyone watching. What if the goblet just gobbed you right back out again?"

Someone laughed behind Harry. Turning, Hermione saw Fred, George, and Lee Jordan hurrying down the staircase, all three of them looking extremely excited.

"Done it," Fred said in a triumphant whisper to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Just taken it."

"What?" said Ron.

"The Aging Potion, dung brain," said Fred. Hermione resisted the urge to smack him in the head for insulting his brother and her best friend.

"One drop each," said George, rubbing his hands together with glee. "We only need to be a few months older."

"We're going to split the thousand Galleons between the three of us if one of us wins," said Lee, grinning broadly.

"I'm not sure this is going to work, you know," said Hermione warningly "I'm sure Dumbledore will have thought of this."

Fred, George, and Lee ignored her, much to Hermione's annoyance.

"Ready?" Fred said to the other two, quivering with excitement.

"C'mon, then — I'll go first —"

The twins stepped into the Age line, which was set up by Dumbledore himself, and put their names in the goblet. At first, they all thought that they succeeded. Hermione felt her heart quickened. What if it was Fred who was chosen by the goblet? She felt her knees weakened a bit. She clutched Harry's robe for support and held her breath, waiting for the result of the twins idiocy.

It was only a few seconds of triumph for the twins though. Without any warning, they were thrown painfully at the ground. All the students, including Hermione, laughed as the twins sprouted long white beards.

The twins were shocked at first. But after a while, they joined in the laughter as they saw each other's face. The mirth in Fred's face was gone in an instant when his eyes landed on Hermione, who was laughing really hard whilst still clutching Harry for support. He immediately stood up and walked away, with George and Lee following him, both laughing so hard they were already red in the face.

Hermione's laugh died immediately as she saw Fred's reaction. Was he insulted by her action?

Thank you so much for reading. :) Ah, review?